In writing this story about “Slabbin’ at Wood’, I have thought to include stories on:

1. Safety

a) ....and you will hear me talking off safety till you probably get sick of the ‘safety’ word. However with and when working with chainsaws, I am a believer that safety first on the job, will likewise take you home safely at last!

b) ....I was also taught that the average audience when being talked to will need to hear the point you are making, at least three times in order for the thought to stick in their head….therefore, safety….safety….and more safety!

c) ....work smart, work safe, and live, to work the wood!

d) ....safety that is not planned, is an accident that is waiting to overtake you!

e) ....it you ever hear some-one tell you that accidents are going to happen and therefore one needs to plan on an alternate plan of safety….look that one in the eye and ask; ”how long do you expect to live?”

....well having said that, let me now move on to….

2. chainsaws or chain saws

a) ....here I will include some of the oldies that I have collected,

b) ....and some of the ones I now have and still use.

3. Freehand Chainsawing

a) ....and this will include what I have learned and developed so as to cut slabs of wood for the benches and tops I build in rustic furniture and ‘wood art’....

4. Plus any-thing else, I have forgotten to mention and that comes forth as we travel down this path of waundering along with slabbin’ at wood stories….

Today I thought I would include some pictures of a McCulloch Super 33 . I have not had this saw running yet and I would welcome any input from any who would have information and experience with this saw….

—-remember safety?....well this one had no-chain break….ouch….—-oil pump was manual and was located in the transmission—-carburetor was of the diaphragm type—-guide bar was 12’’-24’‘—-clutch was centrifugal—-operating rpm 6200—-I have never been able to find an advertised horse power ( H. P.) for this saw.

—-color was standard McCulloch yellow with the engine shroud in black—-fuel oil ratio was 1/2 pint of oil to i gal. of regular gasoline, 16:1—-spark plug type was Champion J8J—-bevel gear transmission—-rigid handlebar system—-air filtration system was flocked wire screen—-reed valve for intake

If any-one has used this one, I would appreciate any stories you may have to contribute.

2 comments so far

Gosh Frank, in ‘54-56, my old man was still using a cross cut. Thank fully I wasn’t big enough to run the other end yet. It wasn’t long until I was big enough and learned to pull and don’t push.(much cussing on the other end of the saw). Some of the old guys I knew when we lived near La Grande, Oregon told about cutting timber with the big two man chainsaws in that time period. In the ‘40 and ‘50 they were still cutting big pine on the Blues. Now the FS can’t seem to get a timber sale past the court room. Most of the timber cut now is on private land. The Forest Service is mostly in the fire business. Hang in with the safety, Frank.

Frank, I had a McClintock with an 36” blade on it back in the early 70s. Remember the kind you had to wrap a rope around the pulley to get her started,which usually took several thousand pulls, of choking, pouring gas in the carb, and pulling some more. I see this one at least has a hand choke. Once you got it started though she would work steady for you until you decided to drop. I don’t know what to tell you to help, other than make sure the plug is getting a little gas on it and some spark. Maybe the mag needs some rubbin with a wire brush. Other than that find you a strong young lad with a strong back and little wit and see if he won’t pull on it for you for a few days. . I think that ole chain saw I had was pre 1960’s. I know it darn near out weighed me. I sure remember the power it had though and its ability to kick back when you least expected it, and probably it’s best safety feature was it’s weight, because although it was a fast runner it had enough weight to help hold itself down. But I did have the darn thing kick back at me once and missed my shoulder by inches, so that surely was’nt a safety feature by any means, all I meant was it helped hold itself in place, cause a saw that heavy you just guide you don’t hold its weight all day or you would’nt last long. Peace, your ole buddy Mike

-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -